Cantata Collective Presents its 9th Season, 2025-2026

Cantata Collective, San Francisco's only professional Ensemble dedicated solely to the performance of the Cantatas of J.S. Bach, is pleased to announce its Ninth Season of FREE Bach concerts—events that have become a mainstay of the Bay Area's musical landscape.

"A group of local early-music luminaries devoted to the composer's 200-plus compositions in the genre" (San Francisco Chronicle), Cantata Collective is supported by an enthusiastic Board of Directors, and endorsed by an illustrious Advisory Board. Together with its "congregation" it has created a magical community of listeners who share in this traversal of musical treasures. Cantata Collective presents these iconic works as the equivalent of a World Heritage Site, a collection of masterworks belonging to all people.

Cantata Collective’s performances in its acoustically perfect home, St. Mary Magdalen Church, in Berkeley, California are FREE to the public. The Ninth Season is made possible thanks to grants from Benevity, The Chicago Community Trust, the Richard and Mary L. Gray Foundation, the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, the Richard M. and Susan L. Kaplan Philanthropic Fund, the KAVAH Fund, the Waverley Fund and generous individual support.

The highlight of the 2024-25 season was the sold out performance of the St. Matthew Passion, conducted by Nicholas McGegan, at Berkeley’s temple for Early Music, First Congregational Church. Coinciding with that performance AVIE released the group’s recording of Easter Oratorio and Magnificat which has already received international critical acclaim. The tradition of celebrating Bach’s birthday with performances of his major choral masterpieces continues on March 21, 2026 with his Ascension Oratorio and Cantata 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis.

Early Music America wrote following the release of their first recording: “To the excellent musicians of the Cantata Collective, MORE BACH, PLEASE!” The Ensemble’s growing discography reflects that request and has received international critical acclaim. Details and excerpts from the press can be found on the Recording Initiative on this website.

2025-26 Season of FREE Bach Concerts

All FREE Cantata concerts are presented on Sundays at 5PM at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street in Berkeley